Drinking Christ

I’m sure that many other folks have pointed this out before, but Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10, says that Israel drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased and their bodies became fertilizer for the desert. And Paul says that these things were recorded as examples for us.

First, it’s clear that Israel drank a spritual drink and that spritual drink was Christ. Israel partook of Christ. And it is also true that having partaken of Christ, God was not well pleased with most of them and sprinkled their bodies over the wilderness. And this is an example for us says Paul.

Now, I don’t mean to read anything into the text or sound unconfessional or anything, but it sure sounds like Paul is saying that people can partake of Christ, even drink him spiritually, and then be judged for sin and taken out by God.

Of course it’s a very sobering point the apostle is making, but his warning is mixed with a promise: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

So what is the answer to the reality of apostacy? What should Christians do when they wonder if they are destined to be left in the wilderness? Paul says that we have to trust God who is the faithful one. Our faith may falter; we may face various temptations. But God is the faithful one, constantly at work, constantly making ways of escape, constantly supporting us that we may be able to bear up under it.